Yorktown Day celebrations to commence this weekend – with no patriotic parade

YORKTOWN – York County is gearing up to kick off Yorktown Day, an annual celebration held on Oct. 19 to commemorate the America’s decisive 1781 Revolutionary War victory.

But the annual patriotic parade commemorating the historic occasion is canceled this year in light of the federal government shutdown, event organizers announced on Tuesday.

“In the wake of the federal government shutdown, the annual Yorktown Day Parade on Main Street and Patriotic Exercises, traditionally held at the Yorktown Victory Monument, administered by Colonial National Historical Park Yorktown Battlefield, have been cancelled,” the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation said in a statement.

Instead of the traditional pomp, the Yorktown Day Association will hold a private ceremony on Oct. 19 to commemorate the holiday at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.

Wreath-laying ceremonies honoring American, French and British soldiers will be held on Oct. 18 and 19 at various locations in Historic Yorktown.

Several celebratory events will still be held at American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, including Yorktown Victory Day Celebration interpretive programs on Oct. 18 and 19.

Guests will witness artillery demonstrations and have the opportunity to participate in hands-on experiences like cloth dyeing, 18th-century cooking and gardening and surveying the military tactics that took place on land and sea during the 1781 Siege of Yorktown.

Other highlights include performances by the Fifes and Drums of York Town, a first-person portrayal of Comte de Rochambeau by Michael Halbert and a history discussion and book signing by Dr. Sean Heuvel, author of “Virginia Militia Commanders at Yorktown.”

An all-new exhibition, “Fresh Views of the American Revolution,” will also debut on Oct. 19 in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.

Yorktown Day special events and the exhibition are included with general museum admission. Residents of York County, James City County and the City of Williamsburg, including William & Mary students, receive free admission with proof of residency.

Free admission will also be offered to active duty, reserve and retired military personnel and up to three family members on Oct. 19.

In addition to Yorktown Day events at the museum, Yorktown Market Days will host a special Victory Market at Riverwalk Landing on Oct. 18 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Most county offices will be closed on Oct. 20 in observance of Yorktown Day, including county government facilities, York-Poquoson Social Services, York County Libraries, voter registration offices and waste management center offices. Garbage collections will not be impacted by the holiday.